Roll wrapping machine



March 8, 1938. P. D. PARSONS ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet l March 8, 1938. P. D. PARSONS ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 March s, 1938. P. D. PARSONS 2,110,815

ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 8 1938. D, PARSONS 2,110,815

ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1956 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 8, 1938. P. D. PARSONS ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 .54 54 I I Q Q |l I I I J93 "Z 62 i} 77 i 2 $9M 5L a I Hl Hllill WWII W March 8, 1938. p PARSONS 2,110,815

ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 allllllllllllilfllll March 8, 1938. p so s 2,110,815

ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 In W Mmnmnmnmummuumnmmumum P. D. PARSONS 2,110,815

March 8, 1938.

ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 47 .36 I ll" If 37 I 26 M 2a 47 '6 14 Q o e a Y 9 //a 45 4/ 10 i 4 /4 /07 M2 m5 1 1 /2 v5 1 \I ll l5 5 I l I ll I I 4/3 r //6 4 I Q J l I V Inn o a.- J4 0 *{3 54 ma 2a 47 Z6 Mg I In /37 a ii O 7 I l I," 3/

March 8, 1938. PARSONS 2,110,815

ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 March 8, 1938. 2,110,815

P. D. PARSONS ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 l3 Sheets-Sheet 1O March 8, 1938. PARSONS 2,110,815

ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 5y als' Affa r WWW March 8, 1938. P. D. PARSONS ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet l2 Filed March 25, 1936 March 8, 1938. P. D. PARSONS ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented Mar. 8, 19,38

PATENT OFFICE ROLL WRAPPING MACHINE Philip D. Parsons, Swarthmore, Pa., assignor to Scott Paper Company, Chester, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 25, 1936, Serial o. '70,866

19 Claims.

This invention relates to roll wrapping ma.- chines of the general character disclosed in my pending application Serial Number 12,075, filed March 20, 1935, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a machine of this general character that shall be capable of producing a materially improved form of wrapping, and further that shall constitute a material improvement over the prior machine by reason of relative simplicity of form and efficiency of operation.

The invention further resides in certain novel and improved mechanical features and details hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2, Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view showing details of one of the folding heads;

Fig. 4a is a fragmentary view in perspective illustrating a detail of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5. Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line 1-1, Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88, Fig. 2;

Figs. 9 to 16, inclusive, are sectional views illustrating the mode of operation of the folding heads;

Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively front and rear perspective views of one of the folding fingers;

Fig-19 is a view in perspective showing the character of the finished wrapping;

Fig. 19ais a line diagram illustrating the form of the wrapper-fold;

Figs. 20, 21 and 22 are diagrammatic sectional views illustrating the details of the control mechanism;

Figs. 23 and 24 are sectional views looking in opposite directions on the lines 23-23 and 24--24, Fig. 6, and

Fig. 25 is a diagram showing the relative movements of the elements of the mechanism through one complete cycle of operation.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings is adapted for wrapping rolls of toilet paper, but it will be apparent that the machine in principle may readily be adapted for wrapping other cylindrical commodities or containers. In general, the mechanism comprises a conveyer I, the function of which is to feed the partially wrapped rolls 2 to the folding and labelapplying mechanism constituting the subjectmatter of the present invention. Prior to being deposited upon the conveyer I, the rolls have had applied thereto a wrapper which completely embraces the roll in the circumferential direction and which being of greater length than the roll projects to a predetermined extent beyond each end face thereof. Mechanism for so partially wrapping the rolls is illustrated'in U. S. Patent No. 2,005,846. As illustrated, the conveyer I is provided at uniformly spaced intervals with cradles 3 which support the rolls in horizontal position.

The conveyer operates in synchronized relation with a rotary structure or drum 4 which is mounted on a horizontal axis in a suitable frame 5 in a position above the conveyer, as illustrated. This drum carries in an intermediate position between its ends a circumferentially arranged series of gripping devices designated generally by the reference numeral 6 which operate automatically as the drum rotates to pick up the rolls from the cradles 3 and to hold the rolls in fixed position on the drum. The drum further comprises two circumferential series of folding-heads 1, the heads of each series corresponding in number to and being axially aligned with and at opposite sides respectively of the gripping devices 6. As the drum rotates, these heads 'I operate automatically to fold the projecting ends of the wrapper against the end of the roll in a manner here'- inafter specifically described and also to apply to the folded wrapper ends a sticker or seal which completes the wrapping operation and effectively seals the package. Subsequently the individual packages are released by the gripping devices 6 and are permitted to fall from the drum into a chute I0, see Fig. 2, through which they are conducted to a conveyer 8.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper run of the conveyer I, which conveyer in the present instance is of the chain type, travels in and is supported by a channel rail 9 so that the cradles 3 maintain a definite relation with the rotary drum 4 and with the gripping devices 6 carried thereby. The cradles 3 comprise spaced rollsupporting elements II, I I, see also Figs. 2 and 3, the spacing of these elements permitting passage therebetween of the pickup fingers I2, I2 of the gripping devices 6.

The fingers I2, I2, which are adapted jointly to embrace the roll and to hold the roll securely seated against a shoe I3 forming an element of the gripping device 6, are actuated to take up the rolls from the conveyer I and to eventually release the rolls by rods I4, I4 which are pivotally securedat I5 to a cross head I6 mounted for radial reciprocation on the drum. The outer ends of the arms I4, I4 are connected to rotatable cylinders I'I, I'l respectively which carry the fingers I2, the arrangement being such that when the cross head I6 is moved toward the axis of the drum, the resulting retraction of the arms I4, I4 causes a. partial rotation of the cylinders I1, moving the fingers I2, I2 away from each other. whereas a reverse movement of the cross head i6 causes the fingers by reverse action to be brought together into the roll-gripping position. As shown in Fig. 3, the shoe I3 is resiliently mounted in the lug l8 for radial self-adjustment. The cross head It is connected through a rod l8 with an arm 2| secured to a shaft 22 suitably journaled in the drum, the opposite end of this shaft carrying an arm 23 which is operat'ively engaged through the medium of a roller 24 with a cam 25, this cam being supported on the fixed framework of the machine. As the drum rotates, therefore, the cam functions to periodically close and open the fingers i2, i2 first to pick up the rolls from the conveyer and subsequently to permit discharge to the chute I as previously set forth. It will be understood'that each of the gripping devices 6 constitutes a unit incorporating the aforedescribed actuating mechanism and each operatively engaged with the cam 25.

The folding-heads 1 each comprise a relatively fixed axial member 26 which is rigidly supported in a bracket 2'! on the drum structure. To the inner end of the member 26 is attached an annular series of radial arms 28, each arm being pivotally supported at 29 for movement between the substantially radial position, as shown for example in Figs. 3 and 9, and a position such as shown in Fig. 11, in which they extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the member 26. Movement of the arms 28 between these two positions is effected through the medium of a collar 3| which is slidably mounted upon the member 26 and which is moved axially of the member 26 through a bell crank lever 32 journaled in the drum and having one arm 33 operatively connected with said sleeve 3|. The other arm 34 of this bell crank lever is connected with a slide member 35 mounted for radial reciprocation in the drum and operatively connected through a roller 36 with the duplex cam 25. The arrangement is such that as the drum is rotated, the bell crank 32 is oscillated to thereby effect aperiodic forward and backward movement of the sleeve 3|. The sleeve carries a plurality of axially projecting arms 31 corresponding in number with the arms 28 and each having bifurcations between which the said arms 28 extend. A pin 38 extends between the bifurcations of the respective arms 31 and through an arcuate slot 38 in the associated arm 28, the arrangement being such that when the sleeve 3| is retracted as shown in Fig. 3, the pins 38 occupy the inner ends of the respective slots 39 and the arms 28 are in the retracted or substantially radial position. When the sleeve 3| is advanced through the medium of the bell crank lever 33 and as previously described, the pins 38 acting in the slots 38, swing the arms 28 downwardly around their respective pivots. 29 into the aforesaid axially extended positions.

Each of the arms 28 carries a segmental shoe 4|, see Figs. 17 and 18, said shoe having on the rear face thereof a lug 42 which is pivotally secured as indicated at 43 between the bifurcations of the arm 28, this lug having a fiat rear surface 44 which is normally engaged by a leaf spring 45 on the arm, said spring tending to hold the shoe 4| in the relative position upon the arm 28, in which it is shown in Figs. 1'7 and 18 and Figs. 3 and 9. When in the normal operation of the machine the arms 28 are swung inwardly toward each otherby the aforedescribed action of the sleeve 3| and associated elements, the relative positions of the pivots 29 of the arms and the t edge of the roll supported in the associated gripping device 8 bring the outer and wider end of the segmental shoe 4| into engagement with the edge of the roll, as illustrated in Fig. 10. When the shoe is thus engaged on the roll, the continued movement of the arms 28 toward each other causes a pivoting of the shoes 4| around their respective pivots 43 until they eventually assume the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 11, wherein they lie flat against the end faces of the roll. The arms 28 and the shoes 4| are so relatively proportioned and arranged that when the shoes occupy the positions shown in Fig. 11 and also at the left of Fig. 2, the side edges of the shoes 4| are separated by narrow gaps. As a result of the aforedeseribed movement of the shoes 4|, the projecting end of the roll wrapper is turned inwardly against the face of the roll, leaving, however, narrow tucks of the wrapper projecting between the spaces which separate the side edges of the shoes, these pro- Jecting tucks being indicated in the drawings by the reference numeral 48.

Each of the folding-heads I also comprises a hollow plunger rod 41 which extends axially through the member 28, and has at its inner end an enlarged head 48. This head is also hollow and presents to the end of the adjacent roll a circular fiat perforated face. The plunger rod 41 has at its rearward end a block 49 which is guided in the bracket 2! for movement axially of the head I. This block carries a roller 5| which engages a cam 52 on the fixed frame of the machine. As the drum rotates, the plunger rod 4'! is periodically advanced from the retracted posl-' tion in which it is shown in Fig. 3 to an advance position in which, as shown in Fig. 12, the perforated flat face of the head 48 is brought into position to engage the infolded wrapper end and against the end face of the roll. To permit this advance movement of the plunger into roll-engaging position, the arms 28 and shoes 4| are retracted, as shown in Fig. 12, by action of the cam 25, as previously set forth. As the head 48 of the plunger 41 advances toward the end of the roll, it first engages the radial projecting tucks 48, and flattens these tucks down against the end of the roll or against those portions of the wrapper which previously have been pressed against the surface of the roll by the shoes 4|.

The final form of these tucks when fully pressed into position by the plunger is illustrated in Figs. 19 and 19a, wherein it will be noted that they are symmetrical with respect to a radial line extending longitudinally and centrally of the tuck, and increase in width from the periphery of the roll towards the cylindrical axis of the latter.

As previously stated, the plunger 41 and the head 48 are hollow, and the outer face of the head 48 is perforated. The interior of the stem 41, and hence of the head 48, is connected through a flexible duct 53, see Fig. 3, with a suitable source of suction, the suction thereby being imposed upon the interior of the head 48 of the stem. Means hereinafter described is provided for bringing a sticker or seal into engagement with the perforated face of the head 48 of the plunger 41, where it is retained by said suction, the gummed surface of the sticker being exposed so that when the plunger is advanced against the wrapper, the gummed and moistened surface will adhere to the latter and will thereby not only retain the folded wrapper in position at the ends of the roll but will also effectively seal the wrapper 59 render it Substantially air-tight. Means is provided, as hereinafter set forth, for moistening the gummed surface of the sticker prior to the application thereof to the wrapper.

Continued retraction of the arms 28 toward their normal radial positions, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, brings the relatively wide or outer ends of the segmental shoes 4| into engagement with an annular flange 54 on the head 1, see also Figs. 3, 4 and 4a, so that the shoes 4|, when the arms 28 move into their normal radial positions, are readjusted from the positions to which they were turned by the aforedescribed engagement with the edge of the roll to the normal position, as shown in Fig. 14, in which position they are ready for a furthercycle of operations in the folding of the wrapper of a succeeding roll. It will benoted that the spring 45, by reason of the angular flat-sided form of the lug 42, tends to retain the shoe not only in its normal position, as shown in Figs. 17 and 18, but also in the other position of adjustment, as shown in Fig. 13.

Following completion of the forward or working stroke of the plunger 41, this element is retracted by action of the cam 52 to the position shown in Fig. 13, but is subsequentlyreadvanced to a sticker-receiving position, as shown in Fig. 14. The cycle of the plunger action is completed by a movement of this element, following receipt of the sticker and as hereinafter described, to

the fully retracted position in which it is shown in Fig. 15.

The mechanism by means of which the stickers are fed to the plungers 41 is illustrated in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and7. By reference to Fig. 2, it will be noted that a shaft 55 is journaled in the fixed framework of the machine in a position adjoining the periphery of the drum 4 and above the chute ID, the shaft 55 paralleling the drum shaft 56. The shaft 55 has secured thereto a radial disk 51 which carries in the present instance three sets of arms 58, 59 and 6|. The outer ends of the arms of each set are spaced apart in the axial direction, as shown in Fig. 5, and each of the arms has at its outer end and on the outer faces a suction box 62, the perforated face of which lies in a radial plane with respect to the shaft 55. The interiors of the suction boxes of the respective sets are connected through pipes 63, 64 and 65 respectively with ports 66, 61 and 68 in an annular member 69 secured to the disk 51, these ports 66, 61 and 68 terminating in the end face of the member 69 at points around the shaft 55 and at the same radial distance from said shaft as an arcuate recess 1| in the face of a sleeve 12 which abuts the aforesaid face of the member 69. The sleeve 12 is mounted freely upon the hub portion of the member 69, see Fig. 5, and is pressed against the ported face of the said member by means of a spring 13. The sleeve 12 carries an axially extended pin 14 which by engagement with a set screw 15 in a lug projecting from the fixed structure of the machine prevents the sleeve 12 from rotating with the member 69 as the latter rotates with the shaft 55. The arrangement is such that as the shaft 55 rotates carrying with it the disk 51 and the member 69, the ports 66, 61 and '68 are brought successively into communication with the recess 1|. The recess 1| is connected through a pipe 11 with a suitable source of suction, as hereinafter described. By this means, the suction boxes 62 of the sets 58, 59 and 6| are periodically connected and disconnected from the source of suction as they are rotated on the shaft 55.

The suction boxes 62, 62 of each set of arms are in axial alignment wtih each other, and the common axes of the respective sets of boxes are so located with respect to the shaft 55 and the said shaft 55 is so located with respect to the shaft 56 of the drum that the cylinder transcribed by the said axes as the shaft 55 is rotated intersects the cylinder transcribed by the axes of the paper rolls rotating as previously described with the drum 4. The shafts 55and 56 are rotated synchronously. the arrangement being such that the suction boxes 62 of the respective sets are brought into axial alignment and at opposite sides of the said rolls, the perforated faces of the suction boxes thereby being necessarily in alignment with the plungers 41 of the folding heads. When in such alignment and as shown in Fig. 14, an advance movement of the plungers will bring the two suction boxes together so that by a predetermined regulation of the suction in the two members a sticker can be transferred from the boxes 62 to the plungers 41.

The stickers are supplied to the boxes 62 from a pair of suction rolls 18 and 19, see Fig. '1, each of these rolls being provided with an elevated perforated face 8| which as the roll rotates is brought into registration with the bottom sticker of a stack carried in hoppers 82 and 83 respectively. Each of the hoppers 82 and 83 is mounted for oscillation about a pivot 84, and each of the hoppers is oscillated through the medium of a lever arm 85, a connecting rod 86 and a cam 81 which is operatively connected with the associated connecting rod through the medium of a roller 88 carried by the latter. The earns 81 are mounted respectively upon shafts 89 and 9| journaled in the fixed framework of the machine, as best shown in Fig. 6, and are operatively connected through a bevel pinion 92 with a bevel gear 93 on the shaft 55. The lower end of each of the connecting rods 86, as shown in Figs. 6 and '1, is slidably anchored on the associated shaft 89 or 9|, so that in effect it oscillates about the axis of this shaft. The arrangement is such that during the period in which the suctionfaces 8| are engaging the lowermost sticker of the stack contained in the hoppers 82 and 83, the hopper and the suction face are moving in the same direction and substantially at the same rate of speed, this by reason of the oscillation of the hopper and the rotation of the suction wheel. The contact between these moving parts, therefore, is a rolling one substantially devoid of any rubbing or friction, the sticker being transferred from the hopper to the suction face 8| of the roll in obvious manner. The arrangement of the suction roll 18 with respect to the suction boxes 62 is such that the suction faces 8| are made to register with the boxes 62, and the suction is so controlled that when so registered the sticker is transferred from the suction faces 8| of the rolls 18 and 19 to the boxes 62, 62 of the respective sets.

Suction is applied to the interior of the rolls 18 and to the suction faces 8| through the respective shafts 89 and 9|. This is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein it will be noted that a channel 94 extends inwardly from one end of the shaft 9| and communicates at its inner end with a transverse channel 95 extending radially to the exterior of the shaft and communicating withv an annular recess in the hollow interior of the roll 18. The outer end of the channel 94 communicates with a chamber 96 in a flange member 91 on the shaft 9|, the outer wall of the chamber 96 being formed by a disk 98 secured to the face of the flange 91. This disk 98 has an aperture 99 which registers with a channel MI in the face of a relatively fixed flange I02 mounted in the fixed framework of the machine and lying in face-toface contact with the disk 99. A spring I03 exerts a pressure forcing the flange member I02 against the face of the disk. The channel IOI communicates through a channel I 04 with a port I05 which extends axially through the member I02 and communicates with a pipe I06 extending to the source of suction. It is apparent that as the shaft 89 rotates, the suction is intermittently applied and removed from the chamber 96, this chamber being conected with the source of suction during that portion of the rotation wherein the port 99 is in registration with the arcuate channel IM and the suction being cut oil from the chamber 96 during that portion of the rotation when the port 99 is covered by the area of the .face of the flange I02 between the terminal ends of the said channel MI. The momentary interruption of the suction in the chamber 95, and hence in the channel 94 and in the suction roll 18, corresponds in time to the period wherein the suction box 62 registers with. the suction face SI of the roll whereby the suction in the box 62 is effective to withdraw the sticker from the suction face 8| and to thereby transfer it from the roll 18 to the box 62. Similar means is provided for momentarily discontinuing the suction in the boxes 62 at the moment when these boxes register with'the suction heads of the plungers 41, thereby to permit transfer of the stickers from the faces of the boxes 62 to the suction heads of the said plungers. 1

Following transfer of the stickers to the plungers 41 as described above, the exposed adhesivecoated faces of the stickers are moistened in preparation for their application to the ends of the roll packages. The mechanism for accomplishing this wetting of the stickers will be understood by reference to Figs. 2, 8, 16 and 22. Immediately below the trough I0 into which the finished packages are deposited from the drum, as previously described, two atomizing nozzles I01, I01 are located in alignment with the path of travel of the suction heads 48 of the plungers 41, these nozzles being so mounted and directed that they are adapted to project a fine spray of water or other moistening medium onto the adhesive-coated faces of the stickers carried by the said plungers. The nozzles I01 are connected through suitable pipes I08 with a pipe I09 extending from a source of liquid supply. Liquid under pressure is passed continuously through the pipes I09 and I08 to the nozzles, which emit the liquid in the form of a finely atomized spray. This spray is normally intercepted by a disk III which ismounted for rotation in a cylindrical casing 2 through the outer wall of which the said nozzle projects. The disk I I I is rotated from the shaft 55 through the medium of sprockets H3, H4 and H5 and chains IIS and H1, see Figs. 1 and 2, rotation of the disk being synchronized with the rotation .of the drum, so that an aperture H8 in the disk comes into alignment wth the nozzles I01 at the moment that each of the plungers 41 comes into alignment with the nozzles. Under these circumstances, the spray from the nozzles at that moment is permitted to pass through the aperture II8 to the adhesive-coated face of the sticker supported on the plunger 41. At all other times, the spray is intercepted by thedisk III and drops from said disk into the casing I I2 which embraces the disk, from whence it passes through a drain pipe II9. It will be noted that the moistening liquid is applied to the sticker immediately after its transfer to the plungers 41 and after the roll supported in the associated gripping elements has been discharged into the chute 1. The sticker is applied to the roll at a point in the rotation of the drum approximately removed from the position in which the sticker is moistened as described. This affords sumcient time for the moisture to dissolve the adhesive and to put it in condition in which it is entirely effective to bind the sticker to the end of the roll.

The method of suction control on the various elements through the medium of which the stickers aretransferred from the hoppers 02 and 93 to the suction heads 49 of the plungers 41 has been described above. Means is also provided for controlling the suction in the heads 48 of the said plungers to permit transfer ofthe stickers to the ends of the said wrapped package. control is effected through the medium of valves I2I supported as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 upon the drum and in position to be actuated by cam elements I22 on the fixed structure of. the machine. The valves I2I are actuated intermittently by said cams as the drum rotates from the open to the closed position, and vice versa. The duct .53 of each of the plungers 41 extends to one of these valves I2I, and through the valve is connected with a duct I29 which in turn is connected through a channel I24 and port I25 with the hollow interior of the shaft 56, see Figs. 2 and 3. The interior channel of the shaft 56 is connected through a pipe I26' with the source of suction. The valves I2I operate to cut the suction from the plungers 41 when the plunger has been advanced to apply the sticker as previously described, so that the sticker is transferred to the package, the suction being eventually reapplied in order to effect transfer to the plungers of the stickers from the suction boxes 62 as previously described.

The operation of the mechanisminsofar as described above will be more readily understood by reference to Fig. 25 of the drawings, which shows in graphic form the relative movements of the elements described through a cycle of 360. It is believed that no further description of the operation of the machine will be required.

In Figs. 6 and 20 I have illustrated means whereby in the event that the gripping device 6 associated with any one of the folding heads fails to receive a roll from the conveyer I, the plungers 41 of those folding heads will not have I transferred thereto a sticker during the one complete cycle of operations. This result is eifected through the medium of an electric switch I21,

which as shown in Fig. 20 is located in the path of the rolls as they move to the drum on the conveyer I. This switchas shown in Fig. 21 is normally closed to complete the electric circuit of which it forms an element. Thiscircuit also includes a switch I28 which is intermittently closed and opened through the medium of a cam I29 on the shaft I3I which carries the sprockets H4 and H5. The cam I29is of such character that in one complete revolution of the shaft I3I the switch is closed and opened three times, the closing of the switch in each instance corresponding to the actuation of the switch I21 by a roll advancing on the conveyer I. In other words. under normal conditions when the switch I28 is closed, the switch I21 will be opened by the roll, so that the circuit is not energized. The circuit This ' that the switch I21 at also includes two electromagnets or solenoids I32 and I33 which are respectively operatively connected with valves I34 and I38 associated with the suction pipes I06 through which suction is applied as previously described to the suction rolls 18 and 19. The valves I34 and I38 are normally closed but are opened by energizatlon of the solenoids I32 and I33, deenergization of the solenoids permitting the valves to close by gravity. When these valves are opened, the negative pressure from the vacuum pump isshort-circuited from the rolls 18 and 19. The-closing of the switch I28 by the cam I29 is so timed with respect to the movements of the rolls 18 and 19 that the switch is closed at each moment when the suction faces 8| of the rolls are in operative position with respect to the hoppers 82 and 83, or in position to withdraw labels from the hopper. If, therefore, the switch I21 fails to open by reason of the absence of a roll from one of the cradles of the conveyer I, the closing of the switch "I28 by the cam I29 will cause the valves I34 and I35 to open at the moment that the suction rolls 18 and 19 are about to withdraw a sticker from the hoppers 82 and 83, this opening of the valves I34 and I35 short-circuiting as previously described the suction from the rolls 18 and 19, so that the rolls are incapable of withdrawing the sticker in that particular cycle of its operation. Since the rolls 18 and 19 fall to withdraw the stickers from the hoppers, it is apparent that the normal transfer operation to the plungers 41 is interrupted, so that one of the plungers, namely, that one associated with the roll-gripping mechanism which falls to receive the roll from the conveyer I, will not receive a sticker for that particular cycle of operations. It is apparent that the device provides for the withdrawal of stickers from the hoppers only when required.

With reference to Fig. 20 and in further explanation of the aforedescribed device, it will be noted that the cradle located below the position of the switch I21 is shown as lacking a roll, so this moment remains closed, thereby setting the safety device in operation. The empty cradle of the conveyer I would normally give up its roll to the gripping device of the folding head designated in Fig. 20 by the character A. The plungers 41 associated with this folding head A would normally receive a sticker from that one of the suction boxes 82 designated in Fig. 20 by the reference character B. This suction box B is about to move into registration with the suction face 8I of the roll 18 and the said suction face 8| is in a position to pick up a sticker from the hopper 82. At this moment, however, by reason of the failure of the switch I21 to open, the valve I34 is actuated by the energizedsolenoid I32 to short-circuit the suction from the face 8| of the roll 18 so that the roll fails to pick up a sticker from the hopper.

The roll 18 is thereby prevented from transferring a sticker from the hopper to the suction box B; and the suction box B is thereby similarly prevented from transferring the sticker to the plunger 41 of the folding head A.

It will be apparent that in the normal cycle of operations, the suction head 48 of the plunger 41 associated with the folding head A will be subjected to a spray of liquid from the nozzles I01, which would be undesirable, and I, therefore, provide means for preventing such application of moisture directly to the faces of the suction heads 48. This device is shown in Fig.

22 and corresponds in operation with the sticker control device described above. It comprises a switch I36 which is intermittently closed by a cam I31 carried by the shaft I3I and corresponding to the cam I29 previously described. This switch controls an electric circuit including a sec ond roll-actuated switch I38 located in the mechanism, as shown in Fig. 20. The circuit also includes a pair of solenoids I39 and MI associated respectively with the nozzle mechanism I81. These solenoids actuatepivoted levers I42 and I43 respectively, which carry at their ends disks I44, These disks normally occupy the positions shown in Fig. 22, but when elevated by energization of the solenoids I39 and MI are brought into the paths of the apertures II8 of the respective disks III and in alignment with the nozzles I81. When thus positioned, the disks I44 act to intercept the spray from the nozzles projected through the apertures I I8 as previously described and prevent the spray from coming into contact with the faces of the suction heads 48 of the plungers 41. The switches I38 are normally closed and are opened periodically by the rolls 2 advancing on the conveyer I. When so opened, the switches I38 prevent energization of the solenoids I39 and MI by the closing of the switch I36. In the event that a roll is missing from one of the cradles of the conveyer I, the switch I38 remains closed, so that the closing of the switch I36 will effect energization of the associated solenoids I39 and MI, thereby moving the disks 144 into the operative or spray-intercepting position. The timing is such that the spray is prevented from contacting any of the plunger heads 48 which by reason of the operation of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 21 has failed to receive a sticker from the sticker-applying device.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character set forth, the

combination with a conveyer, of roll-holding means carried by said conveyer, mechanism movable with the conveyer and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a folding-head positioned in alignment with said roll-holding means, and mechanism for advancing and retracting said head with respect to said holding means, elements on said head operative in the advanced position of the latter to force portions of said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll to thereby produce intermediate said portions a series of outstanding substantially radial tucks, means adapted for reciprocation axially of said folding head for pressing said tucks inwardly toward the face of the roll to thereby complete the folding operation, and power means for actuating said conveyer and said folding mechanism.

2. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a conveyer, of roll-holding means carried by said conveyer, mechanism movable with the conveyer and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projectlng wrapper end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a folding-head positioned in alignment with said roll-holding means, and mechanism for advancing and retracting said head with respect to said holding means, elements on said head operative in the advanced position of the latter to force portions of said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll to thereby produce intermediate said portions a series of outstanding substantially radial tucks, means adapted for reciprocation axially of said folding head for pressing said tucks inwardly toward the face of the roll to thereby complete the folding operation, means for supporting a gummed label on the operating face of said pressing means whereby in the normal operation of the latter. the gummed surface of said label is pressed against the folded wrapper, and power means for actuating said conveyer and said folding mechanism.

3. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with aconveyer, of roll-holding means carried by said conveyer, mechanism movable with the conveyer and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a folding-head positioned in alignment with said roll-holding means, and mechanism for advancing and retracting said head with respect to said holding means, elements on said head operative in the advanced position of the latter to force portions of said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll to thereby produce intermediate said portions 8. series of outstanding substantially radial tucks, means adapted for reciprocation axially of said folding-head pressing. said tucks inwardly toward the face of the roll to thereby complete the folding operation, means for supporting a gummed label on the operating face of said pressing means whereby in the normal operation of the latter the gummed surface of said label is pressed against the folded wrapper, means operating in advance of the working stroke of saidpressing means to apply moisture to the gummed surface of said label whereby said label is caused to adhere to the folded wrapper, and power means for actuating said conveyer and said folding mechanism.

4. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with roll-holding means, of mechanism operatively associated therewith and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projectingend against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a support structure, a plurality of segmental shoes mounted in annular relatively spaced series in said structure, means for moving the shoes from a retracted position inwardly toward the roll end to thereby press relatively spaced segmental portions of the projecting wrapper end against the end face of the roll and to produce intermediate said portions a series of outstanding substantially radial tucks, said shoes being formed so that in the advanced position the proximate side edges of the adjoining shoes are substantially parallel and define narrow radial spaces through which said tucks project, and means operative axially of saidroll for pressing said tucks fiat against the impressed segmental portions of said wrapper end to thereby complete the folding operation.

5. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with roll-holding means, of mechanism operatively associated therewith and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projecting end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a support structure, a plurality of segmental shoes mounted in annular relatively spaced series in said structure, means for moving the shoes from a retracted position inwardly toward the roll end to thereby press relatively spaced segmental portions of the projecting wrapper end against the end face of the roll and to produce intermediate said portions a series of outstanding substantially radial tucks, said shoes being formed so that in the advanced position the proximate side edges of the adjoining shoes are substantially parallel and define narrow radial spaces through which said tucks: project, and means operative axially of said roll for pressing said tucks flat against the inpressed segmental portions of said wrapper end to thereby complete the folding operation, said latter means comprising also means for applying a gummed label to said folded wrapper end.

6. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with roll-holding means, of mechanism operatively associated therewith and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said hold er to fold said projecting end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a support structure, a plurality of segmental shoes mounted in annular relatively spaced series in said structure, means for moving the shoes from a retracted position inwardly toward the roll end to thereby press relatively spaced segmental portucks in the axial direction to flatten said tucks against the inpressed segmental portions of said wrapper end, said last-named means comprising an axially movable presser plunger having a hollow head portion and having perforations in the working face of said head, and means for applying suction to said hollow head to thereby support a gummed label on the perforated working face of said head for application to the folded wrapper end.

7. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with roll-holding means, of mechanism operatively associated therewith and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projecting end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a support structure, a plurality of arms pivotally mounted in annular series in said structure and movable in radial planes between retracted substantially radial positions and advanced positions substantially parallel to the axis of said roll, a segmental shoe pivotally mounted on each of said arms and adapted in the retracted positions of the latter to extend in the substantially radial direction, mechanism for advancing said arms to thereby bring the outer ends of said shoes into engagement with the end edge of said roll whereby a continued movement of the arms towards the advanced position effects a pivotal adjustment about their respective axes of the shoes into positions against the end face of said roll whereby said shoes are effective to press relatively spaced segmental portions of the wrapper end against said end face and to produce intermediate-said portions a series of outstanding substantially radial tucks, said shoes being formed so that in the advanced position the proximate side edges of the adjoining shoes are substantially parallel and define narrow radial spaces through which said tucks project, and means for folding said tucks flat against the inpressed segmental portions of said wrapper to thereby complete the folding operation.

8. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with roll-holding means, of mechanism operatively associated therewith and adapted to operate ontheprojecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projecting end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a hollow plunger adapted for movement axially of said roll and having a working face presented to the P able in a path between said hopper and the plunger.

9. In amachine of the character set forth, the combination with roll-holding means, of mechanism operatively associated therewith and adapted to operate on he projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projecting end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a hollow plunger adapted for movement axially of said roll and having a working face presented to the end of the roll provided with perforations, suction means for retaining a gummed label against the perforated face of said plunger whereby the gummed face of said label is pressed against the folded wrapper end when said plungor is advanced, and mechanism operating in synchronism with said folding mechanism for feeding labels to said plunger, said feeding mechanism comprising a hopper and a suction member movable between the hopper and the plunger and operative to transfer the labels from the former to the latter.

10. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with roll-holding means, of mechanism operatively associated therewith and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holder to fold said projecting end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising as one of the active folding elements a plunger adapted for reciprocation axially of the roll, and mechanism operatively associated with said plunger and operating in timed relation with said folding mechanism for adhesively applying a sticker to the folded end of said wrapper, said stickerapplying mechanism including suction means for supporting a sticker upon the working face of said plunger, a label-=holding hopper and a suction-controlled tra sfer member movable between the hopper and the plunger for transferring the stickers from the former to the latter.

11. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a rotary roll carrier, of

mechanism movable with said carrier and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said carrier to fold said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll, said mechanism comprising a member movable axially with-respect to said roll, suction means associated with said member for supporting a gummed label for application to the folded wrapper end, and means for feeding labels to said member, said feeding means comprising a rotary transfer member adjacent said carrier and having a suction head adapted for movement into registration with said member, means for controlling the suction to thereby permit transfer of a label from said suction head to the member, and means for synchronously operating said carrier and said transfer member.

12. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a movable roll carrier, of mechanism operatively associated with the carrier and adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll suported in said carrier to fold said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll, means for applying a gummed label to the folded end of said wrapper, said means comprising a label-supporting applicator member mounted in the carrier for movement axially of the roll, and means for applying moisture to the gummed surface of said label, said means comprising an atomizing nozzle located adjacent the path of said applicator for projecting a spray against a label supported on the applicator, means for continuously feeding liquid under pressure to said nozzle, and means operated in synchronism with said carrier for intercepting the spray except when the said applicator has moved into alignment with said nozzle.

13. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a movable roll carrier, of mechanism operatively associated with the carrier andadapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said carrier to fold said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll, means for applying a gummed label to the folded end of said wrapper, said means comprising a label-supporting applicator member mounted in the carrier for movement axially of the roll, and means for applying moisture to the gummed surface of said label, said means comprising an atomizing nozzle located adjacent the path of said applicator for projecting a spray against a label supported on the applicator, means for continuously feeding liquid under pressure to said nozzle, and means operated in synchronism with said carrier for intercepting the spray except when the said applicator has moved into alignment with said nozzle, said intercepting means including a rotary disk interposed between the applicator and the nozzle and having an aperture arranged for axial alignment with said nozzle and with said applicator.

14. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination with a rotary member, of a plurality of roll-holding devices on said carrier arranged in circumferential series, mechanism on said carrier operatively associated with each of said supporting means adapted to operate on the projecting end of a wrapper embracing a roll supported in said holding means to fold said projecting wrapper end against the face of the roll, each of said mechanisms comprising a label-applying member movable axially of the associated roll, and means for actuating said member to adhesively apply the label to the folded end of the wrapper, mechanism for automatically feeding the labels to said members, and means for moistening the gummed surface of said labels prior to application thereof to the wrappers, said moistening means comprising a relatively fixed liquid spray nozzle positioned 

